Trump’s $250M White House Ballroom Sparks Outrage as East Wing Faces Demolition

WASHINGTON D.C. — Demolition on the historic East Wing of the White House began Monday to make way for a new $250 million ballroom commissioned by President Donald Trump, igniting controversy over the legality and oversight of the construction process. The project, which Trump described as “big” and “beautiful,” is being privately funded and marks the most significant physical alteration to the presidential residence in decades.

“You see the gold drapes? That’s a knockout panel,” Trump said during a ceremony in the East Room. “We knock it in, you go with that comes out, and then you have essentially glass. Right on the other side you have a lot of construction going on...and that goes right into the ballroom. And the ballroom's gonna be beautiful.”

Construction crews began work at the East Wing’s main entrance, where guests traditionally arrive. While it remains unclear how much of the wing will be removed, early images show that the original corridor remains visible in renderings of the new ballroom design, suggesting the extension will expand outward from the existing structure.

The East Wing, completed in its current form in 1942 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, has historically housed the Office of the First Lady and supports White House social functions. Its historical significance has raised questions about whether Trump has the legal authority to alter it without formal approval.

Under the National Capital Planning Act of 1952, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) is tasked with reviewing major federal development projects in Washington, D.C., including those on the White House grounds. Trump himself previously went through the NCPC approval process in 2018 for the White House Tennis Pavilion, a process that took nearly a year.

However, NCPC Chair Will Scharf stated at the commission’s September 2025 meeting that no plans for the ballroom project had been submitted, and he argued that the commission has no jurisdiction over demolition activities on federal property.

“It is, in fact, the case that this commission does not have jurisdiction,” Scharf said. “What we deal with is essentially construction of vertical build. Any assertion that this commission should have been consulted earlier...is simply false and represents a misunderstanding of this commission's role in that project.”

The explanation has drawn criticism from preservationists and lawmakers, who argue that Trump’s dual role as president and beneficiary of the project, combined with Scharf’s appointment as both White House Staff Secretary and NCPC Chair, represents a conflict of interest.

Scharf was installed as chair of the NCPC in July 2025; the same month Trump publicly announced the ballroom project. Critics point to the timing as evidence of a coordinated effort to expedite the project without public input or oversight.

Despite questions surrounding the legality of the demolition, no legal action has yet been taken to stop it. The White House has said that once formal plans for the ballroom’s construction are completed, they will be submitted to the NCPC for review. Until then, the administration insists that no rules have been broken.

Whether or not that interpretation of jurisdiction will hold up remains to be seen. In the meantime, Trump’s team is pushing forward with the project, claiming it will enhance the functionality and elegance of the White House for future state events.

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